Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1887-11-26
THE PILGRIMS THANKSGIVING.

How 1t Was Observed by Direction OF
Governor Bradford.
The Pilgrim Fathers landed at Ply
mouth, as we all know, on Monday, Dec
81, 1920.
Under favorable auspices the first har
vest was gathered. With hearts of JOY
they secured the bountiful crop of Indian
corn which had ripened in the fierce heats
of August and the warm haze of Septem-
ber AS they looked on the heaped up
stores-the first fruits of their toll in the
new land-their hearts swelled with
thankfulness that the Lord had SO merci-
fully cared for them, and that, though
sorely smitten with pestilence, they were
now blessed with health, peace and free
dom from the dread of famine
Mindful of the Providence to whom
those blessings were due those stern, bold
men were very devotionaD, Governor
Bradford proclaimed solemn Thanksgiv-
ing feast, and ordered that preparations
should be made for celebrating it with
such festivities as were in their power.
Four men were dispatched into the woods
to shoot wild fowl, and though the game
had been scanty throughout the summer.
the quartet of sportsmen returned at night
staggering under their burden of turkeys,
the entire settlement for whole week.
There was rare labor done by the good
Puritan danes, plucking and dressing the
game, pounding corn and baking it, get
ting out and polishing the tin and pewter
table services brought from England and
Holland, and scrubbing the wooden
trenchers that served the poorer pilgrims
in lieu of tin or pewter.
The roar of one of the great guns on the
hill top announced the commencement Of
Thanksgiving. 1t was Thursday, Oct. "a,
a little less than one year after their ar
rival in Cape Cod bay. In the different
dwellings and over fires lit in the open air
began the work of roasting and boiling.
When all had assembled the sergeant
stepped forward, and the men, three
abreast, with firearms shouldered,
marched orderly and silently toward the
meeting house. Behind came Governor
Bradford in his long robe of Office, walk
ing gravely, as befitted a governor. On
his right hand walked the venerable Ed
er Brewster in his preachers cloak bear
ing the Bible reverently in his hands. On
the governors left was the military chief
Of the colony, Miles Standish, his heavy
armor laid aside for a short cloak. his
trusty sword at his side, and small cane
in his hand as mark of office. Proudly
he watched the firm tread, sturdy frames
and serviceable weapons of the little troop
before him, and was half regretful that
among the subjects for the days thanks
giving was the blessing of peace with all
the tribes about them. 1t was also pity
so many good muskets should be used
only in shooting wild fowl, so doubtless
he thought; for the sturdy little captain
was, as he had said, man of war, half Of
whose thirty-seven years had been spent
in knocking about the world as a soldier
of fortune.
The sermon of Elder Brewster was APP
propriate TO the occasion. Never was be
known to preach q better discourse or a
shorter one, though it would be thought
long enough now, particularly if the
steam of roasting Melea2ris gallopavo
tickled the nostrils Of preacher and con
gregation, as it did them.
1t was a Thanksgiving dinner, and no
mistake about it. To be sure the tables
were of the rudest, and there was not
much display, nor were there the many
little delicacies that can often be found
now on Thanksgiving tables. But the
turkey was there in all his glory of
Drowned skin, rich grayies and palatable
stuffiing, and so were number of other
birds, great and small, roasted and boiled
and baked over the embers. There was
corn bread and hominy and puddings,
and several little nicknacks such as skillful
housewives could make up of the mate
rails at hand. Nor were the tables alto
gether wanting in display. Some famIiies
had brought few household relics from
their English homes, and these were set
out to do honor to the day of rejoicing.